CD Reviews

A pleasant example of the later Fairport

woburnmusicfan | Woburn, MA United States | 08/17/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The centerpiece of "Red and Gold" is the title song, a Ralph McTell ballad based on a British Civil War battle that took place in the band's home base of Cropredy. It's an epic song, and truth be told, it's fairly boring. Luckily, the rest of the album offsets it pretty well. Highlights are Dylan cover "Open the Door, Richard" and Maartin Allcock's instrumental "The Noise Club". "Set Me Up" and "The Beggar's Song" also contribute to a lively feel. The CD includes a live version of "Close to the Wind" that was not on the original album.

(1=poor 2=mediocre 3=pretty good 4=very good 5=phenomenal) "

A Fanfare Of Folk

PHILIP S WOLF | SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA. USA | 11/01/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In August 1979, Fairport Convention was all but left for dead on Cropredy Field in the heartland of England. As the eighties played on, so did this band. They kept on growing in popularity with each passing year. By 1985, Fairport Convention, had released another album, and two more would follow in 1987. By late 1988, work began on: "Red & Gold". This is my favorite recording by them from the 1980's.

With the new boys, Ric Sanders on fiddles and Martin Alcock on all manor of stringed instruments, keyboards and electronic equipment, the sound of the band had evolved greatly from their skills. Old timers Simon Nicol: lead vocals and guitars, Dave {Peggy} Pegg: bass guitars, mandolin and vocals and Dave Mattacks, on drums and percussion devices.

The opener: "Set Me Up" is a lively romp played at a brisk rate, it also shows how tight the chaps have evolved as a performing unit. Martin Alcock, contributes a selection entitled: "The Noise Club that has electronic processed midi-guitars. "Red & Gold" is the standout track on this record, and it is the story of a battle at Cropredy a few hundred years past. The band is playing excellent everywhere on here, and this was the record where Simon, stepped up to the plate and took command of his lead vocals, and really became Fairport Convention's frontman.

Ric Sanders shines all throughout this record on amazing violin, "The Rose Hip" is his beautiful instrumental and showcase on this record. Ric, had the difficult task of replacing Dave Swarbrick in 1985, and he was well up to the task. Ric is to the fiddle, what Ian Anderson is to the flute, a world-class player of imagination and style, he is my favorite fiddle guy on the planet.

Dave Mattacks adds some fantastic keyboard work to; "Dark Eyed Molly" and Peggy does some amazing runs on his bass throughout this outstanding track, "Molly" is my favorite song on this great record, and when the band would play this live in concert, it would give me chills as it was so good. This entire record becomes even larger when it is performed on stage. In May of 1989, I sat spellbound about five feet infront of a very low stage in a tiny dive in Portland, Maine. That three hour performance really was just one of those nights, when you are indeed very lucky to be a part of an event.

With the ballad; "Summer Before The War" and a rocking: "Open the Door Richard", there is a wealth of great material performed. There was a mixed reaction to this record because Martin had employed synths to play folk music on some tracks, for me it's all good. Traditional or modern, there are still only two types of music...good and bad. "Red & Gold" is a blend of old and new, and it is excellent.4.5 Stars!!!"